March 30 blog: Gaddafi's counter-offensive reverses rebels' gains

Intensive counter-attacks by troops loyal to Muammar Gaddafi forced rebels to retreat from several key towns they had previously captured. The Libyan foreign ministry rebuked a French suggestion to consider arming rebels.

Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa arrived in the UK late Wednesday and has resigned from Muammar Gaddafi's government, the British government said. Koussa travelled under “his own free will,” said a British government spokesman.

Troops loyal to Muammar Gaddafi pounded rebels in eastern Libya on Wednesday. Heavy shelling is reported in the key oil port of Brega, a day after rebels were forced to retreat from Bin Jawad and Ras Lanuf.

France, US and the UK have said that the possibility of arming Libyan rebels has not been ruled out, although Russia is strongly opposed to the idea. Libya's foreign ministry said such a move would violate United Nations resolutions and be tantamount to aiding "terorrists".

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad addressed his nation and blamed the wave of unrest there on "conspirators". It was his first public address since unprecedented demonstrations erupted two weeks ago.